Universal standard reagents, method of preparing same and use thereof

ABSTRACT

A universal standard chemical reagent for quantitative visual and spectrometric analysis of compounds having reactive functional groups, including mixtures and homologs of said compounds, said reagent comprising a compound of the general formula Q-B-f, wherein: Q stands for an organic moiety which can be measured quantitatively, visually by color, spectroscopically, or fluorometrically; B represents a non-reactive organic bridging unit linking the moiety Q to a reactive functional group f, said bridging unit being of sufficient length or size to prevent any possible interaction of Q that might alter its spectroscopic properties even upon derivatization; and f is a reactive group which can react with a compound to form covalently bonded derivatives.

The present invention relates to a new class of chemical reagents for quantitatively measuring compounds containing reactive functional groups. The invention further relates to methods of preparing such reagents and using them. Specifically, the invention relates to a new class of chemical reagents which can be used as universal standards for quantitatively measuring any compound which can form a derivative with the reagents when the compound is present in mixtures and together with homologs. More specifically, the reagents of this invention are organic chemicals which have specific moieties that can be measured quantitatively, colorometrically, fluoroscopically, or by other spectral means such as UV, IR, NMR and ESR. Some of these reagents are new chemical compounds.

It is thus an object of this invention to provide a new class of analytical reagents which can serve as universal standards for visual spectroscopic analysis of different compounds, without requiring comparison with a standard for each compound measured.

Another object of the present invention is to provide analytical methods for measuring compounds quantitatively, with reagents whose molar ε and that of their derivatives is substantially constant.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide a method of quantitatively measuring homologous compounds with a single standard reagent without requiring external standards.

A further object of the invention is to provide some new chemical compounds suitable for use as universal standard colorimetric or spectrometric analytical reagents.

Until now, the common methods for quantitatively measuring chemical compounds having functional groups were based on the reaction of these compounds via their functional groups with a reagent, usually a chromophoric or fluorescent reagent, and measuring the derivative spectrometrically by comparing the absorption of this derivative with that of a known external standard of such a derivative compound. For example, the determination of amino acids with fluoro-2,4-dinitrobenzene (FDNB) as described by Sanger, Biochem. J., Vol. 45, p. 563 (1984), is carried out by converting the amino acids into their dinitrophenyl derivatives. The actual quantification of each amino acid is arrived at by comparing the UV absorption of the corresponding dinitrophenyl derivative with that of standard amino acid dinitrophenyl products, e.g., DNP-Gly, DNP-Ala, etc. The external standard, however, is different for each amino acid measured. Similarly, amino acids can be analysed quantitatively fluorometrically by reacting them with a fluorescent reagent such as Dansyl chloride, Dabsyl chloride or O-pthalaldehyde to form the fluorescent derivative. The actual quantification again requires a specific external standard for each amino acid.

The present invention provides a new universal standard chemical reagent for quantitative visual and spectrometric analysis of compounds having reactive functional groups, including mixtures and homologs of said compounds, said reagent comprising a compound of the general formula I:

    Q-B-f                                                      (I)

wherein Q stands for an organic moiety which can be measured quantitatively, visually by color, spectroscopically or fluorometrically; B represents a non-reactive organic bridging unit linking the moiety Q to a reactive functional group f, said bridging unit being of sufficient length or size to prevent any possible interaction of Q that might alter its spectroscopic properties even upon derivatization; and f is a reactive group which can react with a compound to form covalently bonded derivatives.

As stated, said bridging unit B is of sufficient length and/or size to prevent any possible special interaction of Q that might alter its spectroscopic properties even upon derivatization. This is particularly relevant for fluoroscopic analysis where interference is possible even from a distance.

Furthermore, as indicated, f is any reactive group which can react with a compound to form covalently bonded derivatives having the formula Q-B-f-A. Such a reaction can be represented as follows:

    n(Q-B-f)+A→Q-B-f-A+(n-1)Q-B-f

wherein A represents any analysable compound containing a reactive functional group that will form a covalent bond with the reactive group f.

The invention also provides a method for the quantitative determination of an organic compound designated herein by A, said compound A having a reactive functional group, said method comprising:

reacting a sample containing said compound A with a reagent comprising a compound of the general formula I:

    Q-B-f                                                      (I)

wherein:

Q stands for an organic moiety which can be measured quantitatively, visually by color, spectroscopically, or fluorometrically;

B represents a non-reactive organic bridging unit linking the moiety Q to a reactive functional group f, said bridging unit being of sufficient length or size to prevent any possible interaction of Q that might alter its spectroscopic properties even upon derivatization; and

f is a reactive group which can react with a compound to form covalently bonded derivatives, according to the reaction:

    n(Q-B-f)+A→Q-B-f-A+(n-1)Q-B-f

wherein

Q, B, and f are as defined as above and n equals 1 or more;

separating any excess reagent (n-1)Q-B-f; and

measuring the absorption of the reaction product Q-B-f-A wherein the molar absorptivity of ε of said reaction product Q-B-f-A and said reagent Q-B-f are substantially constant and wherein the molar concentration of the reaction product Q-B-f-A is equal to the measured absorption divided by ε, thus eliminating the requirement for comparing the measured result with an external standard.

Preferably, in said method, said molar absorption is measured spectroscopically or visually.

Said method is especially applicable for the determination of amino acids, and the invention also provides a method for determining mixtures of amino acids, comprising reacting said mixture of amino acids with a reagent according to the present invention; separating the amino acid reaction products; and measuring said products spectroscopically with said reagent serving as a universal standard for all the amino acid reaction products.

In another aspect of the present invention, there is also provided a method for studying reaction rates of functional groups present in different types of compounds, comprising:

reacting a known mixture of compounds having the same functional group with less than stoichiometric amounts of a reagent comprising a compound of the general formula I:

    Q-B-f                                                      (I)

wherein:

Q stands for an organic moiety which can be measured quantitatively, visually by color, spectroscopically, or fluorometrically;

B represents a non-reactive organic bridging unit linking the moiety Q to a reactive functional group f, said bridging unit being of sufficient length or size to prevent any possible interaction of Q that might alter its spectroscopic properties even upon derivatization; and

f is reactive group which can react with a compound to form covalently bonded derivatives;

separating the derivative reaction products; and

measuring the absorption of each derivative product using the reagent as a universal standard, the reaction rates of the functional groups present in each of the different compounds being proportional to the molar concentration of each of the derivative products.

In this method, said reaction products are preferably chromotographically separated.

Generally, the compounds to be analyzed and measured are reacted with an excess reagent Q-B-f and the product is isolated from excess reagent by known methods of separation such as chromatography, or by adding excess of another reactive compound A' similar to A in its chemistry, but carrying a functional group that can help in separating the excess reagent Q-B-f from the reaction mixture. Such compounds A' may be polymers with functional groups similar to those of A which upon reaction with excess reagent form separable solids. A' could also contain functional groups such as -SO₃ H or -N- which would make the reaction product with Q-B-f water soluble or separable. The product is then measured visually by color or spectroscopically. The molar concentration of the reagent and derivative will have the same ε irrespective of which compound A is being determined in the reaction is quantative.

Some representative moieties for Q are shown in Table 1.

                  TABLE 1                                                          ______________________________________                                         Name      Structural formula                                                   ______________________________________                                         2.4 dinitro- phenylamino-                                                                 ##STR1##                                                             ##STR2##                                                                                 ##STR3##                                                            dansyl amido-                                                                             ##STR4##                                                             ##STR5##                                                                                 ##STR6##                                                            dansyl-                                                                                   ##STR7##                                                            dansyloxy-                                                                                ##STR8##                                                            dabsylamido-                                                                              ##STR9##                                                             ##STR10##                                                                                ##STR11##                                                           dabsyl-                                                                                   ##STR12##                                                           dabsyloxy-                                                                                ##STR13##                                                           fluoren-9-yl- methyloxy- carbonyl- (FMOC)                                                 ##STR14##                                                           fluoren-9-yl- methyloxy- carbamido-                                                       ##STR15##                                                           fluoren-9-yl- methyloxy- carbonato-                                                       ##STR16##                                                           ______________________________________                                    

Some representative bridging units B are:

(C_(n) H_(2n))- where n=2 to 18;

(C_(m) H_(2m) Z)_(p) where m=2 to 3, Z=NH, O, S and p=1 to 18; ##STR17## where n and m are as defined above.

Some representative reactive functional groups f that can be reacted with compounds A to form spectroscopically measurable derivatives not requiring any external standard are listed in Table 2.

                                      TABLE 2                                      __________________________________________________________________________     f-group        Suitable for measuring the Following A Groups                   __________________________________________________________________________     1)                                                                               --NH.sub.2   acylating, sulphonating or phosphorylating reagents,                           reactive esters,                                                               aldehydes, mixed anhydrides, carbon dioxide, alkylating                        epoxides,                                                                      acrylates, β-lactams                                       2)                                                                               --NH-R.sub.1 as for 1), except for aldehydes                                 3)                                                                               --NHR.sub.1 R.sub.2                                                                         alkylating reagents (CH.sub.3 X, X = Halogen)                   4)                                                                               --N.sup.⊕ R.sub.1 R.sub.2 R.sub.3                                                       ionic reagents in aqueous solution (ion exchange                               reaction)                                                       5)                                                                               --COOH       CH.sub.2 N.sub.2, ArCHN.sub.2, ROH or RSH (DCC coupling                        method)                                                         6)                                                                               --CO--OL     Nucleophiles, such as --NH.sub.2, NHR, --NHR.sub.1                             R.sub.2, ROH, RSH, CN.sup.⊖, N.sub.3.sup.⊖,                     etc.                                                             --OL = leaving group                                                           such as OBT, O--SUC,                                                           nitrophenol etc.                                                             7)                                                                               --CO NH NH.sub.2                                                                            aldehydes, saccharides                                          8)                                                                               --NH COCH.sub.2 X                                                                           RSH                                                               (X = Halogen)                                                                9)                                                                               --NHCOCH.sub.2 CH.sub.2 CH.sub.2 SH                                                         alkylating reagents such as alkyl halogens, activated                          double bond                                                                    (Michael addition) as in acrylates                              10)                                                                              --CH.sub.2 --CH═CH.sub.2                                                                halogens and H-hal                                              11)                                                                              --CH.sub.2 -hydroxy quinoline                                                               Zn.sup.2+, CU.sup.++, Au, Ca.sup.++                               EDTA, hydroxamates                                                           12)                                                                              --CHO        SO.sub.2 /H.sub.2 O, ROH, RSH, CN.sup.⊖, proteins                      with or without help of NaBCNH.sub.3                            13)                                                                              --SO.sub.3 H amine salts, basic inorganic salts, i.e. Na, K, Ca              14)                                                                              --SO.sub.2 NH NH.sub.2                                                                      R CHO, Br.sub.2, Cl.sub.2, I.sub.2                                             (RCO).sub.2 O and acylating reagents; aldehydes                 15)                                                                              --CH.sub.2   a model for aromatic Friedel Craft reactions                    16)                                                                              COOCH.sub.3  kinetics of ester hydrolysis, hydrazinolysis,                                  aminonolysis                                                    17)                                                                              --CH.sub.2 S.sub.3 Hal                                                                      selective for indoles and derivatives                           18)                                                                              OH           as models for sugars in the formation of glycosidic             __________________________________________________________________________                    bonds                                                      

For example, in the analytical reagent DNPNH(CH₂)₂ NH₂, DNP=2,4-dinitrophenyl, Q=2,4-dinitrophenylamine (DNP-NH-), B=--(CH₂)₂ -- and f=-NH₂. We measured various acyl compounds with this reagent. By mixing excess DNPNH(CH₂)₂ NH₂ with an unknown acylating (RCO⁺) compound, DNP-NH(CH₂)₂ NHCOR is formed. After removal of excess reagent, the new derivative compound can be measured spectrometrically, its measured value being proportional to the amount of RCO⁺. The acylating compound can encompass a wide variety of acylating groups such as RCO⁺, CH₃ CO--, C₆ H₅ CO--, t-BuOCO--, ArSO₂ --, etc.

Similarly, the analytical reagent DNPNH(CH₂)₂ COOSu, (Su=succinimide), where Q=DNPNH--, B=--(CH₂)₂ -- and f=COOSu, was successfully reacted with a wide variety of compounds carrying a primary or secondary amine function such as (C₂ H₅)₂ NH, C₆ H₅ NH₂, H₂ NNH₂, C₆ H₅ CH₂ NH₂, HO-(CH₂)₃ NH2, HS(CH₂)₂ NH₂, to give derivatives that can be determined spectroscopically without external standards. Using excess succinimide active esters as reagent gives quantitative conversion of the amines to amides.

In addition to using the reagents of this invention for the quantitative determination of compounds, it is possible to determine the relative reactivities of two given compounds A₁ and A₂ by reacting an excess of each of A₁ and A₂ with the same analytical reagent Q-B-f. The ratio of the amounts of their respective products Q-B-f-A₁ and Q-B-f-A₂ is a measure for their relative reactivities. For example, when 10 equivalents of acetic anhydride (A₁ =CH₃ CO) and 10 equivalents of benzoic anhydride (A₂ =C₆ H₅ CO) are reacted with 1 equivalent of DNP-NH(CH₂)₂ NH₂, the ratio in which their products, DNP-NH(CH₂)₂ NHCOCH₃ and DNPNH(CH₂)₂ NHCOC₆ H₅, respectively, are found in the resulting reaction mixture is a measure for the reactivity of acetic anhydride and benzoic anhydride as acylating agents.

The reagents of this invention are also useful for measuring reactive gases. Thus, carbon dioxide can be measured in a very convenient way by reacting it with a toluene solution of DNP-NH(CH₂)₂ NH₂, as follows: ##STR18##

The latter compound is a colored salt and can be extracted with water and measured spectrometrically. Remnants of the original reagent will dissolve in toluene.

With this class of reagents it is possible to follow reactions involving colored chromophores by visual examination with very small quantities (nanomoles).

In accordance with this invention, not only soluble material or gases can be analysed with the novel universal standard reagents, but it is also possible to determine quantitatively heterogeneous matrices such as found in polymers and polymeric reagents, which can be covalently bound to the reagents.

Thus, e.g., when an insoluble, but swellable polymer P has a reactive group A attached to it, the reactive polymer can be represented by the formula P-α-A. α is the linking group between the insoluble polymer matrix P and the group A and is covalently bound to P and stable to any cleavage during the chemical manipulation. This polymer, when reacted with excess of a reagent Q-B-f, forms reaction products which are (1) insoluble polymer -P-α itself; and (2) Q-B-f-A, where Q, B, f and A are as defined above. After removing the excess reagent Q-B-f, and the polymer -P-α- from the reaction mixture, the amount of A originally bound to a given weight of polymer P-α-A can be calculated by measuring spectrometrically the amount of Q-B-f-A formed. The value found for Q-B-f-A is then proportional to the original amount of A attached to the polymer P-α-A.

More specifically, the amount of reactive RCO³⁰ groups bound to a polymer can be determined as shown by the equation: ##STR19## wherein n is a whole integer.

Alternatively, the reactive polymer may be of the kind represented by P -A, where A is covalently bound to the polymeric matrix. Here, too, excess reagent Q-B-f is used to react with the polymer to give a high yield of reaction to form P -A-f-B-Q and the excess reagent is washed out. In this case, additional chemical cleavage is necessary to release the Q group to be measured. Special, easily hydrolyzable or cleavable groups are used. To mention a few: ester (--COO--), amide (--CONH--), carbamide (--OCONH--) and S--S bonds are quite often used.

In cases where the reactive polymer mentioned above, P-α-A, comprises an active ester group, then the α (α=CN³¹ , n₃ ⁻, benzhydroxythiazole [BTOH], imidazole, etc.), forms an unstable compound RCCα in solution. To measure the quantity of RCOα an excess of DNPNH(CH₂)₂ NH₂ is added to the filtrate of the reaction mixture, and a stable compound RCOHN(CH₂)₂ NHDNP is formed and measured easily as described. This allows the measurement of polymeric-bound active reagent and soluble RCOα.

While the invention will now be described in connection with certain preferred embodiments in the following examples so that aspects thereof may be more fully understood and appreciated, it is not intended to limit the invention to these particular embodiments. On the contrary, it is intended to cover all alternatives, modifications and equivalents as may be included within the scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims. Thus, the following examples which include preferred embodiments will serve to illustrate the practice of this invention, it being understood that the particulars shown are by way of example and for purposes of illustrative discussion of preferred embodiments of the present invention only and are presented in the cause of providing what is believed to be the most useful and readily understood description of formulation procedures as well as of the principles and conceptual aspects of the invention. Determination of Functional Groups on Solid Support

EXAMPLE 1

Equal aliquots (5×10⁻⁴ M) of a solution of 2,4-dinitrophenyl amino ethylenediamine DNPNH(CH₂)₂ NH₂) in CH₂ Cl₂ were reacted with equal volumes 25×10⁻⁴ M of a solution of the following compounds in CH₂ Cl₂ :

1. acetyl chloride

2. acetic anhydride

3. benzoyl chloride

4. tosyl chloride

5. trimethylsilyl chloride

6. oxalyl chloride

7. thionyl chloride

To each reaction mixture a five-fold excess of triethyl amine, with respect to the chloride, was added to prevent the formation of the HCl salts of the intended products (except for reaction mixture 2, where it cannot be formed). The formation of the expected products was confirmed by TLC analysis of a second series of equal reaction mixtures.

It was shown that in all cases 1-7 the UV-absorption measured at ≈3480A was the same as for the original reagent. This shows that the different acyl groups attached to DNPNH(CH₂)₂ NH₂ have no influence on the absorption spectrum of the chromophore, because of the ethylene bridging unit. It also shows that DNPNH(CH₂)₂ NH₂ is a sensitive reagent for quantifying various acylating reagents when used in excess and the excess is removed by flash chromatography after completion of the reaction. HCl salts have a slightly different e value because of an altered chromophore as compared to that in 2,4 dinitrophenyl amino ethylene diamine.

For separating the excess DNPNH(CH₂)₂ NH₂ reagent from the acylated product, a quite simple and effective procedure was found, using a separation column as follows:

A column having a diameter of about 4 mm and length of 2-4 cm was filled with a mixture comprising 90% silica and 10% polymeric sulfuric acid ion exchange resin. The acylated reaction mixture was poured onto the column. The acylated DNPNH(CH₂)₂ NH₂ was eluted with 0.2 to 2 ml of solvent such as methylene chloride or ethyl acetate, optionally containing up to 30% methyl, ethyl or isopropyl alcohol. The excess DNPNH(CH₂)₂ NH₂ remained on the column. This separation method is good for detecting quantities as low as 1 mm.

EXAMPLE 2

Equal aliquots (5.3×10⁻⁴ M) of a solution of DNP-NH(CH₂)₂ COOSu in DMSO/CH₂ Cl₂ were reacted with equal aliquots (25×10⁻⁴ M) of solutions of the following amines in DMSO/CH₂ Cl₂ :

1. (C₂ H₅)₂ NH

2. C₆ H₅ CH₂ NH₂

3. H₂ NNH₂

4. C₆ H₅ NH₂

5. HS--CH₂ --CH₂ NH₂ HCl

6. HO₃ S--CH₂ --CH₂ --NH₂ --HCl

The DNP-NH(CH₂)₂ COOSu was added in approximately two-fold excess. In reaction mixtures 5 and 6, excess triethyalmine was added. The reaction mixtures were heated (60° C.) for one hour. TLC tests (on a second equal set of reaction mixtures) showed the formation of new amide products. When the reaction mixtures were measured at ≈3480A, the UV-absorption of the products formed was similar to that of the original Q-B-f reagent. This shows that the ethylene bridging unit prevents any influence by the different amides on the DNPNH-chromophore group. Moreover, the experiment shows that DNP-NH(CH₂)₂ COOSu can be used successfully as an analytical reagent for quantifying various amines, when applied in excess and the excess is removed after the completion of the reaction.

EXAMPLE 3

Equal aliquots (4×10⁻³ M) of a solution of dansyl ethylenediamine in CH₂ Cl₂ were reacted with equal aliquots (7×10⁻³ M) of a solution of the following compounds in CH₂ Cl₂ :

1. acetic anhydride

2. benzoyl chloride

3. tosyl chloride

Compounds 2 and 3 were added in approximately five-fold excess. One equivalent triethyl amine with respect to tosyl chloride was added as well.

The formation of the expected dansyl ethylene diamine derivatives was confirmed by a TLC check of a second set of similar reaction mixtures. When the reaction mixtures were diluted to an arbitraily chosen, but exactly known, volume, and measured fluorimetrically at ≈3400A, it was found that the fluorescence of the reaction mixtures was equal to that of an equimolar dansyl ethylene diamine solution. This implies that acyl groups connected to dansyl ethylene diamine via the ethylene bridging unit do not influence the fluorescent properties of the dansyl group itself. Moreover, it shows that dansyl ethylene diamine, like DNPNH(CH₂)₂ NH₂, can serve as an analytical reagent for quantifying various acylating compounds, when reacted in excess and the excess is removed (by flash chromatography) after completion of the reaction.

Synthesis of Reagents

EXAMPLE 4 DNP-NH(CH₂)₂ NH₂

90.0 g of chloro-2,4-dinitrobenzene (0.44M) was added portionwise to a cooled (0° C. stirred) solution of 179 g ethylenediamine (200 ml, 2.98M) in 400 ml methanol. The solid reactant gradually dissolved in the reaction mixture. After completion of the addition, the stirring continued for another 4 hours at 0° C.

Workup

A precipitate formed and was identified as DNP-NH-CH₂ -CH₂ -NH-DNP side product. It was filtered off, washed repeatedly with water and dried. Yield: 2.0 g. To the filtrate was added ice water, and the resulting precipitate was filtered and repeatedly washed with cold water. The crude product was dried. Yield: 52.0 g (52%). A further purification was made by dissolving 10 g of the crude product in 400 ml boiling 1.0 NHCl. The solution was cooled and more cold water was added. It was then extracted with ethyl acetate until TLC showed that the last extraction was clean. The aqueous fraction was made alkaline with concentrated ammonia, cooled to 0° C. and the resulting precipitate filtered off. It was washed with water several times and dried. This treatment afforded 6.5 g very pure, yellow needles.

EXAMPLE 5 DNP-NH(CH₂)₂ NHCOONH(CH₂)₂ NHDNP

Part of the crude DNPNH(CH₂)₂ NH₂ prepared was dissolved in methanol and a current of carbon dioxide was led through the clear solution. A yellow, spongy precipitate formed. After 20 minutes the influx of carbon dioxide was stopped, and the precipitate filtered off, washed with cold methanol and dried.

EXAMPLE 6 DNP-NH(CH₂)₆ NH₂

10 g fluorodinitrobenzene (FDNB, 53.5 mM) was added portionwise to a stirred solution of 17.4 g hexamethylene-diamine (150 mM) in 500 ml chloroform. The FDNB reacted quickly, and yellow precipitate was immediately formed.

Workup

After stirring for 4 hours, the precipitate formed was filtered off and the resulting filtrate was washed with 1.5 l of diethyl ether. Yield: 10.1 g (66%) tlc on silica gel in CH₂ Cl₂. Rf=0.77.

EXAMPLE 7 ##STR20##

23.0 g piperazine (267 mM) and 10.0 g chlorodinitrobenzene (CDNB) (49.4 mM) were mixed (with stirring) in 150 ml of methanol at room temperature. The reactants went into solution within 10 minutes, but then a new product started to precipitate. The reaction mixture was stirred for a total of 4 hours.

Workup

The precipitate was filtered off, the filtrate evaporated to half its original volume. About 240 ml CH₂ Cl₂ was added, whereupon the organic layer was washed 8 times with water. The presence of piperazine in the washings was checked with ninhydrine. Then the organic layer was extracted 6 times with HCl 4N solution; it became almost colorless. The aqueous layer in turn was made alkaline with a 25% NH₄ OH solution and the product was washed back with CH₂ Cl₂. The CH₂ Cl₂ layer was dried over MgSO₄, filtered and evaporated till dry. The resulting orange syrup crystallized totally in about 3 weeks. Yield: 24.2 g.

EXAMPLE 8 DNPNH(CH₂)₃ OH

10.1 g chlorodinitrobenzene (CDNB, 50 mM) was added at once to a cooled stirred (0° C.) solution of 11.3 g 3-aminopropanol (1.4 ml, 150 mM) in 50 ml of methanol. The CDNB went very slowly into solution; there was still some left after 1 hour. After 2 hours, the reaction mixture was brought to a boil and kept at a reflux for a few minutes. After cooling off, a yellow precipitate formed, which was filtered off, washed with a little cold methanol and sucked dry. This afforded 11.5 g of crude material (95%). Further purification could be obtained by recrystallization from hot methanol.

EXAMPLE 9 DNP-NH(CH₂)₂ COOH

This synthesis was conducted in three steps:

a) HCl·H₂ N(CH₂)₂ COOCH₃ :

17.8 g β-alanine (H₂ N(CH₂)₂ COOH, 200 mM) was partly dissolved in 200 ml dry methanol and cooled to -20° C. 20 ml SOCl₂ (275 mM) was added in 40 minutes, during which the cooling remained in effect. The acid went slowly into solution. Shortly after completion of the addition, the cooling was removed, allowing the reaction mixture to reach room temperature. It was stirred for 16 additional hours to remove SO₂.

Workup

The solution was evaporated to dryness, affording white hygroscopic crystals. They were dried in vacuo. Yield: 26.8 g white crystals (96%), mp: 99°-101° C.

b) DNP-NH(CH₂)₂ COOCH₃

A solution of 20.26 g CDNB (100 mM) in 50 ml THF was added dropwise to a mixture of 13.96 g HCl H₂ N(CH₂)₂ COOCH₃ (100 mM) and 28.0 ml triethylamine (200 mM) in 300 ml THF at room temperature. The addition lasted 2 hours and 15 minutes, while stirring vigorously. Thereafter, the stirring continued for 40 hours.

Workup

The reaction mixture was filtered off, and the resulting filtrate evaporated to dryness. The yield was 23.9 g (89%), it was an orange yellow amorphous powder.

c) DNPNH(CH₂)₂ COOH

15.0 g (55.7 mM) of DNPNH(CH₂)₂ COOCH₃ was dissolved (with periodical warming to about 40° C. of the reaction mixture) in 200 ml of a 0.5N NaOH solution (1.8 eq NaOH). The starting material dissolved slowly; the mixture was stirred for a total of 24 hours.

Workup

The solution was filtered after warming again to 50° C. The pH was brought to about 2 with concentrated hydrochloric acid. The flaky precipitate formed was filtered off and washed with ice water, and dried in vacuo. Yield: 11.13 g of a yellow, amorphous powder

EXAMPLE 10 DNPNH(CH₂)₂ COONSuc

9.29 g dicyclohexyl carbodiimide (DCC, 45 mM; 1.5 eq) was added at once to a cooled (0° C.) solution of 7.65 g DNPNH(CH₂)₂ COOH (30 mM) and 3.45 g N-hydroxy succinimide (3 mM) in 150 ml dry THF. The cooling remained in effect for about 2 hours, then the reaction mixture was allowed to slowly reach room temperature. Stirring continued for 72 hours.

Workup

The precipitate formed was filtered off and the filtrate evaporated to dryness. The resulting residue was recrystallized from hot iso-propanol. This afforded 6.32 g orange-brown crystals (57%).

EXAMPLE 11 DNP-NH(CH₂)₂ CONHNH₂

A solution of 6.4 ml hydrazine (200 mM) in 35 ml iso-propanol was dropped during 10 minutes into a solution of 10.76 g DNPNH(CH₂)₂ COOCH₃ (40 mM) in 135 ml dry THF at room temperature. After completion of the addition, the mixture was brought to a boil and refluxed for 3 hours.

Workup

The reaction mixture was filtered off over a paper filter and the filtrate left for crystallization overnight (first fraction). The concentrated mother liquor afforded a second fraction. Yield: 6.75 g (63%), fine orange-brown needles.

EXAMPLE 12 DNPNH(CH₂)₂ NHCOCH₃

A solution of 0.785 g of acetylchloride (0.71 ml, 10 mM) in 25 mg dry THF was dropped slowly into a stirred, cooled (0° C.) solution of 2.26 g DNPNH(CH₂)₂ NH₂ (10 mM) and 1.6 ml triethyl amine (12 mM) in 50 ml dry THF. After completion of the addition, the cooling remained in effect for 30 minutes, and it was then removed to allow the reaction mixture to reach room temperature.

Workup

The reaction mixture (rm) was evaporated to dryness. The residue was washed with small volumes of cold water over a glass filter. The resulting filter cake was dried in vacuo. Yield: 1.9 g.

EXAMPLE 13 DNPNH(CH₂)₂ NHCOC₆ H₅

A solution of 1.40 g benzoylchloride (1.16 ml, 10 mM) in 25 ml dry THF was added dropwise to a stirred, cooled 10° C.) solution of 2.26 g DNPNH(CH₂)₂ NH₂ (10 mM) and 1.67 ml triethyl amine (12 mM) in 50 ml dry THF. After the end of the addition, the cooling remained in effect for 1 hour and it was then taken away to allow the reaction mixture to slowly reach room temperature.

Workup

The workup was done as in Examples 9 and 11. Yield: 2.2 g.

EXAMPLE 14 DNPNH(CH₂)₂ NHSO₂ C₆ H₄ CH₃

A solution of 1.92 g toluenesulphonyl chloride (tosyl chloride, 10 mM) in 30 ml dry THF was added dropwise to a stirred, cooled (0° C.) solution of 2.26 g DNPNH(CH₂)₂ NH₂ (10 mM) and 1.67 ml triethyl amine (12 mM) in 50 ml dry THF. Cooling was maintained for 2 hours, then it was removed. Stirring at room temperature continued for 20 hours.

Workup

The workup was done as in Examples 9 and 10. Yield: 2.5 g.

EXAMPLE 15 DNPNH(CH₂)₂ C₆ H₅

2.03 g chloro-2,4-dinitrobenzene was added portionwise to a stirred, cooled (0° C.) solution of 6.1 g phenethylamine (6.3 ml, 50 mM) in 100 ml methanol. After all CNDB had reacted away (4 hours) the ice bath was removed.

Workup

To the reaction was added ice water, and the pH made acidic with concentrated hydrochloric acid. The precipitate formed was filtered off and washed several times with cold water over a glass filter. The filter cake was dried in vacuo. Yield: 2.5 g.

EXAMPLE 16 DNPNHCH₂ -CH=CH₂

3.05 g chloro-2,4-dinitrobenzene (15 mM) was added portionwise to a cold, stirred solution of 8.57 g allylamine (11.25 ml, 150 mM) in 100 ml of methanol. Stirring continued at 0° C. for 4 hours and then for 18 additional hours at room temperature.

Workup

The addition of ice water to the reaction mixture caused a precipitate. The pH was made acidic with concentrated hydrochloric acid, whereupon the precipitate was filtered off and washed with several volumes of cold water over a glass filter. The product obtained was dried in vacuo.

Yield: 4.5 g.

EXAMPLE 17 DNPNH-CH₂ CH(OMe)₂ and DNPNHCH₂ CHO

2.03 g chloro-2,4-dinitrobenzene (10 mM) was added portionwise to a cold (0° C.), stirred solution of 5.26 g aminoacetaldehyde dimethyl acetal (5.45 ml; 50M) in 50 ml methanol. The stirring continued for 4 hours at 0° C. and 20 additional hours at room temperature. Then the solution was made acidic with 0.5N HCl solution, and more cold water was added.

Workup

The precipitate formed was filtered off and washed repeatedly with cold water, until the washings had a neutral pH. The produce was then dried in vacuo. Yield: 2.4 g.

EXAMPLE 18 FMOC-L-Amino Acid-DNP Derivatives

General Procedure:

The FMOC-L-amino acid DNP derivatives were all prepared from the N-protected FMOC-L-amino acids and DNPNH(CH₂)₂ NH₂ or DNPNH(CH₂)₂ NHCOONH(CH₂)₂ NHDNP, which can be regarded as a "DNP dimer" and thus as 2 euqivalents of DNP-NH(CH₂)₂ NH₂ by the DCC coupling method. 1-Hydroxybenzotriazole (BTOH) was used as a catalyst and DMF as a solvent. A typical synthesis of this type was carried out as follows:

5 mM of the FMOC-L-amino acid was dissolved together with 5 mM 1-hydroxybenzotriazole in 15-50 g of dry DMF, whereupon the solution was cooled to between -10° to 15° C. DCC was added in excess, for most reactions 7.5 to 9.0 mM (50-80% excess). Cooling remained in effect for about 1 hour, and then the mixtures were allowed to react overnight. The workup was usually done by first adding 1-2 ml 1N HCl solution to the reaction mixture for destroying excess of DCC, except for FMOC-L-amino acids protected by acid sensitive groups, such as S-acetamidomethyl-L-cystein, TRT-L-histidine, MTR-L-Arginine, TRT-L-cysteine, PMC-L-Arginine, S-t-butyl-L-cysteine. Then the DCU formed was filtered off over a glass filter and it was washed with DMF until all yellow products had been washed out. The filtrate was made alkaline with a 5% NaHCO₃ solution and ice water added. The precipitate was washed repeatedly with cold water (usually over a Buchner filter) and dried in vacuo. In most cases the products obtained were already clean, but further purification could be achieved by recrystallisation from various solvents of mixtures thereof. The yields of the compounds ranged from 36-93%. The synthetic data of 20 different FMOC-L-amino acid DNP derivatives are compiled in Table 3.

                                      TABLE 3                                      __________________________________________________________________________                               RF value in                                                                    Ethylacetate: Recrystallization                      Compound            Yield (%)                                                                            Ethanol = 0:1                                                                          mp (0° C.)                                                                    mixture                                __________________________________________________________________________     1 FMOC--L-Valine-DNP                                                                               48    0.64    214.5-216                                                                            --                                     2 FMOC--L-Phenylalanine-DNP                                                                        81    0.62    151-154                                                                              CH.sub.3 OH:DMF = 9:4                  3 FMOC--L-Leucine-DNP                                                                              36    0.63    172-174                                                                              CH.sub.3 OH:DMF = 8:1                  4 FMOC--L-Glycine-DNP                                                                              70    0.44    148-151                                                                              CH.sub.3 OH:CH.sub.3 COOH              5 FMOC--L-Isoleucine-DNP                                                                           40    0.62      212-213.5                                                                          CH.sub.3 OH:DMF = 1:1                  6 FMOC-ε-BOC-L-Lysine-DNP                                                                  80    0.57    169-171                                                                              CH.sub.3 OH:DMF = 4:1                  7 FMOC--L-Asparaginyl-DNP                                                                          91    0.50    191-193                                                                              CH.sub.3 OH:DMF = 2:1                  8 FMOC--L-Methionine-DNP                                                                           82    0.60    194-197                                                                              CH.sub.3 :DMF                          9 FMOC--L-Aspartic acid                                                                            71    0.64    133-136                                                                              CH.sub.3 OH:DMF = 5:3                  10                                                                               FMOC--L-Proline-DNP                                                                              78    0.37    142-144                                                                              CH.sub.3 OH:DMF = 2:1                  11                                                                               FMOC--L-Tryptophan-DNP                                                                           93    0.61    178.5-180.5                                                                          CH.sub.3 OH:DMF = ?                    12                                                                               FMOC--L-Glutamic acid-                                                                           77    0.63    187.5-189.5                                                                          CH.sub.3 OH:DMF = 12:1                 5-t-butylester-DNP                                                             13                                                                               FMOC--O-t-butyl-L-Serine-DNP                                                                     81    0.63    151-153                                                                              CH.sub.3 OH:DMF = 19:1                 14                                                                               FMOC--O-t-butyl-L-Tyrosine-DNP                                                                   71    0.64    182-184                                                                              CH.sub.3 OH:DMF = 3:1                  15                                                                               FMOC--S-Acetamidomethyl-                                                                         60    0.68    180-183                                                                              CH.sub.3 OH:DMF = 3:1                  L-Cysteine                                                                     16                                                                               FMOC-trityl-im-L-Histidine-DNP                                                                   84    0.40     99-105                                                                              CH.sub.3 OH:DMF:H.sub.2 O =                                                    3:2:3                                  17                                                                               FMOC-Mtr-L-Arginine-DNP                                                                          70    0.68    122-126                                                                              CH.sub.3 OH:DMF = 7:1                  18                                                                               FMOC-trityl-S-L-Cysteine-DNP                                                                     81    0.47    119-122                                                                              Hexane: etDAC = 2:1                    19                                                                               FMOC-Pmc-L-Arginine-DNP                                                                          42    0.47          CH.sub.3 OH:DMF = 3:1                  20                                                                               FMOC--S-t-butyl-L-Cysteine-                                                                      85    0.68    165-167                                                                              EtOAc:EtOH(95%) = 4:1                  DNP                                                                            __________________________________________________________________________

EXAMPLE 19 Dansyl-SO₂ NH(CH₂)₂ NH₂

A solution of 134.3 mg dansyl chloride (0.5 mM) in 3 ml dry CH₂ Cl₂ was slowly dropped (with a Pasteur pivette) into a cooled (0° C.) 0.6 g ethylene diamine (0.67 ml, 10 mM) in 5 ml dry Ca₂ Cl₂. During the addition and therefafter, the solution of dansyl chloride and the reaction mixture was shielded from light. The reaction mixture was stirred for 45 minutes at 0° C., and another 15 minutes after cooling was taken away.

Workup

The reaction mixture was evaporated to dryness in vacuo, then taken up in 50 ml CH₂ Cl₂. The solution was washed four times with 0.6N Kose. The organic layer was dried over MgSO₄. This was filtered off and the solvent was removed. Yield: 40 mg (27%), yellow oil.

EXAMPLE 20 ##STR21##

A solution of 135 mg dansyl chloride (0.5 mM) in 3 ml dry CH₂ Cl₂ was dropped slowly into an ice cooled solution of 0.61 g piperazine (10 mM) in 15 ml dry CH₂ Cl₂. The dansyl chloride solution was shielded from light during the addition and ensuing reaction. The reaction mixture was stirred for 2 hours at 0° C., and overnight at room temperature.

Workup

The reaction mixture was diluted with CH₂ Cl₂ to about 60 ml, washed with 0.6N KOH (4×10 ml), dried over MgSO₄, filtered, and evaporated to dryness. Yield: 150 mg (94%), yellowish, fluorescent oil which crystallized upon standing.

EXAMPLE 21

It is possible, by using the reagents of this invention, to learn about the reaction path and side reactions of given reactions. For example, thyroxin peptides were reacted with t-butyloxycarbonyl anhydride ((t-BOC)₂ O); part of the thyroxin was blocked with the t-BOC group to form the t-BOC-O phenyl derivative. When subjected to TLC on DNP NH(CH₂)₂ NH₂ impregnated plates, the product and t-BOC DNPNH derivative was detected. By adding ammonia the t-BOC group was removed completely from the thyroxin and the pure thyroxin recovered.

This TLC with reagent impregnated along the base line can be used for (a) qualitative or quantitative detection or determination of functional groups, and (b) determining the reactivity of certain functional groups.

EXAMPLE 22

The Use of DNPNH(CH₂)₃ OH in Sugar Transformations

1-Halo activated glucose tetra acetate, when reacted with DNPNH(CH₂)₃ OH, yielded β- and α-glycosidic products in ratios of 96.4% β to 3.6% α, based on UV determination at 248 nm. When β and α products were separated and analyzed, their max and E_(M) were identical, as expected.

The β-glucoside tetra acetate of glucose was hydrolyzed with a variety of hydroxylated or alkoxylated reagents, such as OH⁻, O⁻ Me, O⁻ prop. In all cases hydrolysis takes place, but surprisingly enough, the amounts of tri- and di-acetate derivatives were found in small quantities, but monoacetate was already observed, even at the beginning of the reaction.

The use of the reagents of the present invention enabled the prediction of the existence of self-catalytic reactions in the sugar acetate molecule itself.

EXAMPLE 23 Triglyceride Analysis

Upon refluxing a fraction of 1 mg of a tri-glyceride with DNPNH(CH₂)₃ NHNH₂ in toluene, cleavage of the glyceride esters occurred and the corresponding hydrazides were formed and analyzed quantitatively using H.P.L.C. separation.

EXAMPLE 24

The Use of Chiral Amines in the Determination of Chiral Amino Acids

When excess of HCl salt of -L-Val CONH(CH₂)₂ NHDNP HCl was coupled to CbzDL-PheCO₂ H using conventional peptide chemistry (DCC+OH Suc), the two diastereomers L--L and D--L of Cbz-Phe-Val-CO-NH(CH)₂ DNP were separated by H.P.L.C., and their quantities were 1:1.

It will be evident to those skilled in the art that the invention is not limited to the details of the foregoing illustrative examples and that the present invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the essential attributes thereof, and it is therefore desired that the present embodiments and example be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, reference being made to the appended claims, rather than to the foregoing description, and all changes which come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are therefore intended to be embraced therein. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A method for the quantitative determination of an organic compound designated herein by A, said compound A having quantitatively reactable functional groups, said method consisting essentially of:quantitatively reacting compound A, in a sample containing compound A, with a reagent comprising a compound of the general formula I:

    Q-B-f                                                      (I)

wherein: Q stands for an organic moiety which can be measured quantitatively, visually by color, spectroscopically, or fluorometrically; B represents a non-reactive organic bridging unit linking the moiety Q to a reactive functional group f, said bridging unit including non-reactive CH₂ --CH₂ linkages and being of sufficient length or size to prevent any possible interaction of Q that might alter its spectroscopic properties even upon derivatization; and f is a reactive group which can react with a compound to form covalently bonded derivatives, according to the reaction:

    n(Q-B-f)+A→Q-B-f-A +(n-1)Q-B-f

wherein: Q, B and f are as defined as above and n equals 1 or more; separating any excess reagent (n-1)Q-B-f; and measuring the absorption of the reaction product Q-B-f-A wherein the molar absorptivity ε of said reaction product Q-B-f-A and said reagent Q-B-f are substantially constant and wherein the molar concentration of the reaction product Q-B-f-A is equal to the measured absorption divided by ε, whereby division of said measured absorption by ε provides the value of the molar concentration of the reaction product, thus eliminating the requirement for comparing the result with an external standard.
 2. A method for the quantitative determination of an organic compound as claimed in claim 1, wherein said molar absorption is measured spectroscopically.
 3. A method for the quantitative determination of an organic compound as claimed in claim 1, wherein said molar absorption is measured visually.
 4. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein A is an amino acid.
 5. The method as claimed in claim 4 for determining mixtures of amino acids, comprising:reacting said mixture of amino acids with said reagent of general formula I, separating the amino acid reaction products;and measuring said products spectroscopically with said reagent serving as a universal standard for all the amino acid reaction products.
 6. A method for studying the reaction rates of a given functional group present in different types of compounds, comprising:reacting a known mixture of compounds having the same functional group with less than stoichiometric amounts of a reagent comprising a compound of the general formula I:

    Q-B-f                                                      (I)

wherein: Q stands for an organic moiety which can be measured quantitatively, visually by color, spectroscopically, or fluorometrically; B represents a non-reactive organic bridging unit linking the moiety Q to a reactive functional group f, said bridging unit including non-reactive CH₂ --CH₂ linkages and being of sufficient length or size to prevent any possible interaction of Q that might alter its spectroscopic properties even upon derivatization; and f is a reactive group which can react with a compound to form covalently bonded derivatives; separating the derivative reaction products; and measuring the absorption of each derivative product using the reagent as a universal standard, wherein the molar absorptivity ε of each said derivative product is substantially the same, whereby division of said measured absorption of each said derivative product by the same value ε provides the value of the molar concentration of the derivative product and the reaction rates of the functional groups present in each of the different compounds are proportional to the molar concentration of each of the derivative products.
 7. A method for studying reaction rates of functional groups as claimed in claim 6, wherein said reaction products are chromatographically separated.
 8. A method for studying reaction rates of functional groups as claimed in claim 6, wherein said molar concentration is measured spectroscopically.
 9. A method for studying the reaction rates of a given functional group present in different types of compounds, comprising:reacting a known mixture of compounds having the same functional group with less than stoichiometric amounts of a reagent comprising a compound of the general formula I:

    Q-B-f                                                      (I)

wherein: Q stands for an organic moiety which can be measured fluorometrically; B represents a non-reactive organic bridging unit linking the moiety Q to a reactive functional group f, said bridging unit including non-reactive CH₂ --CH₂ linkages and being of sufficient length or size to prevent any possible interaction of Q that might alter its fluorometrical properties even upon derivatization; and f is a reactive group which can react with a compound to form covalently bonded derivatives; separating the derivative reaction products; and measuring the fluorescence of each derivative product using the reagent as a universal standard, wherein the molar absorptivity ε of each said derivative product is substantially the same, whereby division of said measured fluorescence of each said derivative product by the same value ε provides the value of the molar concentration of the derivative product and the reaction rates of the functional groups present in each of the different compounds are proportional to the molar concentration of each of the derivative products. 